Improving The Quality Of Life In The Late 1800s And Early 1900s

Throughout the 19th century, new technology was being rapidly developed, improving the lives of many citizens throughout the United States. However, many of these advancements were purely mechanical, a stark contrast to Thomas Edison’s electrical innovations which could progress past the limitations of mechanics. Moreover, Edison not only developed these products with his extensive knowledge but also worked to make them commercially viable to the public. Although many of Edison’s inventions failed to have any impact on citizens, ultimately the products that succeeded, combined with his knowledge of electricity, improved the quality of life for Americans in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Cementing itself into the lives of many, the commonplace

In fact, Edison’s light bulb lasted so long that the glass cracked well before the light dimmed, leading Edison to strengthen the glass, significantly extending the life of the light bulb (Avila). Had it not been for Edison, the light bulb would have remained an insufficient discovery with no applications in the lives of Americans because of its short lifespan. Moreover, Edison’s drive to provide a reliable light source to the American people is shown by a newspaper illustration from 1878, which showcases Edison’s machine shop. Visually, it is clear that Edison worked hard to create a commercially available light bulb through the jumble of machinery and workers (“Edison Electric Light”). The quantity of workers in the shop further displays the extent to which Edison went in order to spread the fruits of his knowledge to the citizens of America. Additionally, having an image in a newspaper, which has a target demographic of the general public, to advertise the upcoming invention of the lightbulb highlights how Edison improved the lives of